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Hey guys, as I am sure you all know, it is getting to be crunch time for Christmas gifts. I've already found some things for my wife, but I have an idea for something else, and this is where all of you wonderful people could help me a ton. I am just starting to learn German, but my wife spent 3 months in Austria some years ago, and has a good knowledge of the language. That said, it has been a while since she has really used her German skills, and is looking to get back into reading to help her along. (We're planning on spending a few weeks there next year so it would be nice to be up to par with the language)
So, as part of her Christmas bundle, I am trying to find a graphic novel or regular novel in German to buy her. She likes detective stories, sci fi, fantasy, all kinds of graphic novels, no romance BS and not so much on the non-fiction. So, I am looking for something in German I can buy her and soon!!! Also, she prefers to read a book in its original language, so if its English, she reads it in English, so I am not really looking for Harry Potter in German, something written by a native in his native language would be great. However, I have zero ideas about what to look for or who to look for if their are any really popular authors. Please help give me some ideas and a little bit of what the story is about, if its any good, etc.
Thanks guys and Merry Last-minute-shopping-before-Christmas!!!
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Germany139 Posts
Are you looking for a specific genere or do you just want a german book written by a native speaker?
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Not too specific on genre... something not too heavy though. She loved Dresden Files a lot, but I also got her to read Wheel of Time and A Song of Ice and Fire, she reads a lot of detective novels, and has a huge collection of Graphic Novels, usually with a fantasy background... so maybe fantasy, sci-fi first, or just anything you think is really good. Thanks ^_^
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Germany139 Posts
^Stop trolling dude.
I would suggest Jenny Mai Nguyen as a writer in general if you are looking for fantasy and fantastic drama. I could list a few other fantasy writers but Jenny Mai Nguyen really is one of the very best. Look her up and if your search is done, let me know 
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Christian Kracht: Ich werde hier sein im Sonnenschein und im Schatten.
And yeah, Feuchtgebiete ist Kot.
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thanks guys... I looked up that first book and I was definitely a bit... taken aback
I'll check them both out, but Jenny-Mai definitely fits what I was looking for. I think Nocturna has an awesome plot... I think I am leaning that way for the moment... You guys rock <3
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On December 15 2011 01:45 nepeta wrote:
Christian Kracht: Ich werde hier sein im Sonnenschein und im Schatten.
And yeah, Feuchtgebiete ist Kot.
lol...
I need to step up my German because that book sounds effing awesome... I love that kind of story.
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"Der Schwarm" is great. I don't think that you can not like it.
Check out "Das Parfum" by Patrick Patrick Süskind. It's a very popular book and can be considered to be a classic of modern German literature. There's a movie adaption (with Dustin Hoffman) too.
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Hello! Maybe it's not her genre since it's more 'reality' but I always recommend books of the swiss writer Martin Suter.
I'd suggest ,,Die dunkle Seite des Mondes" which is about a successful businessman whose life became "boring" so he decides to try some mushrooms. Unfortunately he can't control his feelings due the drugs and soon he is searched by police because of murder.
Might be interesting cuz it also has some detective elements in it but the focus is more on the psyche of the businessman.
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Why not go for something classical?
Goethe's "Faust" is THE german book. If you haven't read this you can't say you are German.
The Nibelungensage or Nibelungenlied is the german national epic and there are versions for kids with easier german language.
Both these books have "fantasy" elements and are probably the most important pieces of german literature.
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On December 15 2011 02:52 Tonkerchen wrote:
Hello! Maybe it's not her genre since it's more 'reality' but I always recommend books of the swiss writer Martin Suter.
I'd suggest ,,Die dunkle Seite des Mondes" which is about a successful businessman whose life became "boring" so he decides to try some mushrooms. Unfortunately he can't control his feelings due the drugs and soon he is searched by police because of murder.
Might be interesting cuz it also has some detective elements in it but the focus is more on the psyche of the businessman.
Hmm. I'll look into it. If it is too much psychedelics it probably wouldn't suit her, but if that's a small part and its more of a memoire-esque wtf did I do kind of thing it might work out for her;
On December 15 2011 03:15 REDBLUEGREEN wrote:
Why not go for something classical?
Goethe's "Faust" is THE german book. If you haven't read this you can't say you are German.
The Nibelungensage or Nibelungenlied is the german national epic and there are versions for kids with easier german language.
Both these books have "fantasy" elements and are probably the most important pieces of german literature.
She did study a few years in school so I'm not sure how much of the classics she has had experience with... me however, I might did the kids version of the nibelungensage... maybe after the holidays when it starts getting cold over here I'll try to work my way slowly through it...
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as someone said before das parfüm from patrick süsskind would probably be perfect for your girlfriend. Its a very good story that is also understandable even if youre not a native speaker.
I wouldnt recommend faust or nibelungenlied, those are rather advanced books. One for its complexity and poetic form, the other because its written in "mittelhochdeutsch" (medieval german language).
Another good writer you should consider is Hermann Hesse. He wrote classics like Siddharta, Steppenwolf or Glasperlenspiel. All of them are books one should have read in his life, preferably in german.
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On December 15 2011 03:15 REDBLUEGREEN wrote:
Why not go for something classical?
Goethe's "Faust" is THE german book. If you haven't read this you can't say you are German.
The Nibelungensage or Nibelungenlied is the german national epic and there are versions for kids with easier german language.
Both these books have "fantasy" elements and are probably the most important pieces of german literature.
to be honest i dont think Faust is a book to read if you want to learn german.
i can imagine there being a lot of misunderstandings because of the way its written.
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Probably the most popular sci-fi/fantasy author in Germany is Wolfgang Hohlbein. I've devoured his books when I was a teenager (also have signed book  ). I'd highly recommend anything by him, especially his older stuff since I haven't read any of his books for years, shame on me.
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EPT
